WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Mulholland Falls
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 22 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Nick Nolte, Melanie Griffith, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Treat Williams, Jennifer Connelly Daniel Baldwin, Andrew McCarthy & John Malcovich

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM
(Catalog Number): ML105534
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 107
(Color Type): Color With Black & White Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1996
(LD Release Date): 9/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Lee Tamahori
(Screenplay/Written By): Pete Dexter
(Story): Pete Dexter & Floyd Mutrux
(Music): Dave Grusin
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Richard Sylbert
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Sally Menke
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Mario Iscovich
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Richard D. Zanuck & Lili Fini Zanuck

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Sound): DTS Digital Sound
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Mulholland Falls tells the story of four no-nonsense cops (Nick Nolte, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen and Chris Penn), nicknamed the “Hat Squad” who form an elite police unit early in the 1950s. A routine murder investigation leads them to a scientist (John Malcovich) working in the highest levels of the Atomic Energy Commission, where they learn a secret that the military and government will do anything to protect.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.85:1 picture has brief sequences exhibited in black and white that are nicely rendered. The color picture quality is superb with natural fleshtones, rich and vibrant colors, and solid deep blacks. Shadow detail is excellent as well as contrast. Images are sharp and detailed, and there is but the slightest noise and artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital soundtracks is silent in the surrounds during the opening credit sequence while the matrix PCM version has a subtle surround presence. Once the movie engages both versions almost always convey surround envelopment and surprisingly sound for the most part the same. This scenario repeats itself during several sequences in the film with no surround energy in the discrete version. Only once does the discrete version exhibit aggressive split surround energy, but .1 effects are almost non-existent. There are no differences in dialogue with both rendering an unnatural ADR presence.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: